"There's 104 days of summer vacation, and school comes along just to end it. And the annual problem of our generation, is finding a good way to spend it...."
It's that time of year again: Summer vacation. If your kids love Phineas & Ferb as much as our kids do, I am sure they get quite a few ideas from these cartoon brothers about activities to do on their break from school. But, as parents, we know that summer can pose some logistical inconveniences. If your child is one who loves a schedule, then summer can be... dare we say it? Stressful!
For kids on the Autism Spectrum, the daily grind is comfort. But our job is to help flexibility be fun, and coach our kids into being OK with changes. Maybe your kids are in summer camp, or summer session in school - this alleviates much of the problem with scheduling. For some kids, even these slight changes in routine can cause major meltdowns until routine sets in. Sometimes, just as routine sets in the camp ends and you are back to square one. If you are traveling with special needs kids - you may be dreading the thought of airport waits, plane delays, long flights and sibling rivalry that comes with weeks upon weeks of your kids being together. For some kids - especially in San Francisco - the warm weather can make them act like one of the 7 Dwarfs. Which one? GRUMPY.
So, we have some ideas for you on how to make summer a time of rejuvenation, spontaneity and family fun!
(1) Schedules! Schedules! Schedules!
You may feel like scheduling summer is a lame idea. You may feel that it is even counter-productive in teaching your child flexibility. We have come up with a compromise: schedule time for spontaneity! If your child is on the spectrum, or has struggled with anxiety, you may be familiar with laminated visual schedules that have icons stuck on with velcro. If you don't already have one, you don't need to make one because they are very labor intensive. Depending on the age and development of your child, simply taking a piece of paper and writing down/drawing what is happening in their day and posting it up somewhere in the house can help. It will also help if you can make a calendar for all the weeks until school goes back. You don't have to fill it all in to the day, but if you know you are going away or have a special event coming up, let your child see it. If you want some time to throw caution to the wind, then make an icon/draw a "?" Question Mark - explain to your child that means that you don't know what will be happening then, and that is OK, because life isn't always totally planned out.
(2) Beware of siblings spending to much time together
Sometimes we can expect siblings to play together for long periods of time, when it is likely that they may be arguing a lot because they are quite frankly... sick of each other. In school time, the kids probably don't see each other this much. If your child is on the spectrum, it is likely that they need some coaching to make appropriate social choices and this puts extra strain on sibling relationships. One way to combat this, is to make a time every day where the kids spend time apart. Maybe one child can have special time with a parent, maybe one child can help make dinner, maybe you could plan regular play dates... there are endless creative ideas to help your kids have time out from one another.
(3) Spend some quality time with your kids
Kids need quality and quantity time from their parents. While it's summer, you have more opportunity to connect with your kids without necessarily having to stick to rigid bedtimes or school routines. Take some time out to get to know each of your kids for who they are - there is no substitute for parental attention. You will be surprised how much positive attention will impact even the most difficult of children. Being fully present with your child will change their world for the better.
(4) Be creative with activities
Let's dispel the rumors: You do not need fancy vacations for your kids to have a good summer. We have seen kids have more fun drawing in sand with a stick, than traveling across the Atlantic. Life is what you make of it. Finding something fun to do that is free can be a skill that not everybody possesses - but that doesn't mean you can't learn. The internet has endless ideas of things to do in your city, your neighborhood and even your home. When was the last time you threw a sheet over the dining table and made a fort? When was the last time you had a picnic lunch at the local park? When was the last time you made fruit smoothies and froze them into popsicle molds? You don't need to pay a bank for activities, you just need to provide something out of the ordinary. Keeping your kids entertained is one thing - but teaching them to entertain themselves is something entirely different.
